Summary: “Can dogs have PTSD?” Unfortunately, PTSD in dogs is possible. In this blog, we’ll learn how to tell if you have a dog with PTSD and how to help them recover…
PTSD – or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder – is a psychological condition that can impact those who have experienced and survived trauma.
This might be war, assault, abuse, a fire, a natural disaster, or any event that caused intense stress. But did you know that PTSD in dogs is possible?
Can Dogs Have PTSD?
Yes, although it’s only been recognized in dogs officially in the past decade. It’s thought that 5-17% of our furry friends are affected by canine PTSD.
For dogs, stressful events that can bring on PTSD include:
- Dog fighting (whether they were used as bait or participated in fights)
- Severe abuse
- Not being cared for properly as a puppy (perhaps they were born in a puppy mill)
- Surviving a traumatic event (perhaps a house fire or a car crash)
- Working a traumatic event (perhaps they are a working dog that attends natural disasters or stressful crime scenes)
- Receiving intense medical treatment
- Being attacked by another dog
Signs
If you think you may own or know a dog with PTSD, the signs of the condition in canines include:
- Intense abandonment discomfort (they become incredibly distressed when left alone)
- Being timid
- Aggressive behavior
- Disturbed sleep pattern
- They react intensely to a certain place or person
- Excessive panting
- Disinterest in food or treats
- Disinterest in play or normal activities
- They seem depressed/not themselves
If they’re a working dog (for example, military, police, or security), they may appear to “shut down”, they may refuse to work or they may seem hyper-vigilant.
How To Help A Dog With PTSD
When it comes to trying to support and better PTSD in dogs, the methods are not unlike what you’d use to treat a human’s PTSD.
Medication
If the canine PTSD is incredibly severe, any other intervention may seem futile and impossible without first calming the dog down via anti-anxiety medication. This will not cure the dog of PTSD, but may give them some respite from the physical symptoms of the condition. While they are on medication, they will be introduced to a behavioral program (often a program of desensitization), and then gradually weaned off the medication when their behavior starts to improve.
Desensitization
You or an ethical, trained animal behaviorist, at the advice of a vet, may engage with a process of desensitization. Firstly, you need to work out what the trigger is.
For example, if it’s the sound of gunshot, you may play the noise at a very low volume level. If they tolerate it well, you’d reward them for not reacting to it with a treat. Then, over a period of days and weeks, you’d gradually increase the volume of the gunshot, continuously rewarding your dog’s tolerance.
Desensitization would not be appropriate in cases of animals that have been severely abused and you should work with your vet or a reputable animal behaviorist in these cases.
Having Fun
Building trust up in your dog and making their life enjoyable as much as possible can massively improve the behavior of dogs with PTSD. Engage them in lots of play, praise, and fuss, and make sure they’re receiving a healthy, nutritious diet as well as a good amount of breed-appropriate daily exercise.
If you’re unsure how much exercise your dog and their breed typically needs, you can refer to our guide below or chat with your vet:
Small bursts of positive reinforcement training can also be a rewarding, fun experience for a dog with PTSD. It can help enhance your bond and their trust around people and places as well as provide essential mental stimulation. You can try trick training or nose work and see if this helps your dog with PTSD.
PTSD In Dogs
It’s important to remember that a dog with PTSD may never be cured, but their life experience and behavior can be improved with ample patience, support, and love from an owner or family that’s willing, kind, and able.
If you’ve rescued a dog, their triggers may not be obvious until they’ve become more settled and trusting of you in their new environment. So, it’s worth being aware of that before bringing home your rescue pup.
Sources
Author Taffer, Marissa “Can Dogs Experience PTSD?” Dog-Eared by My Ollie, Nov 03. 2021 https://blog.myollie.com/can-dogs-suffer-from-ptsd/
“Dogs & Post Traumatic Stress Disorder” American Kennel Club, Mar 23. 2013 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/dogs-post-traumatic-stress-disorder
